Human factors or Ergonomics is applied every day to improve the design and functioning of systems (products, services, environments) that people interact with. The IEA, as the official voice of the Ergonomics discipline, should express its views, opinions and expertise regarding this crossing and strategical field of application of ergonomics.
Design for All (called also Universal Design or Inclusive Design) is a transversal design approach that can be applied to communication systems, environments, public services and fast-moving consumer goods, so that each environment/product can be used by as broad a range of population as possible. It tends to identify a person-centred design, not a design for categories of people, that includes also the unexpressed needs of the broadest possible number of people, as well as their expectations, through a participatory process involving final users and decision-makers.
Real people/ users, are very different from each other’s, all of them should be considered and involved since the beginning of the process.
The TC on EinDfA can become the reference point for practitioners and researchers in the fields of ergonomics and design for industry and for users.
The TC will serve the needs of practicing ergonomists who are concerned with user interaction of environments, products, services show the effectiveness of the application of ergonomics knowledge and ergonomics principles to designers and demonstrate the importance and benefits of implementing ergonomics in the design for All process to any stakeholders (such as public institutions, public and private companies and their managers, etc).

Objectives

1. To promote ergonomics in the process of Design for All (called also Universal Design or Inclusive Design)
- To improve and increase the ergonomics knowledge for application in Design for All
- To promote basic and applied ergonomic research as well as best ergonomic practice within the domain of Design for All

2. To promote global collaboration among members and organizations within the field of Design for All
- To facilitate cross-disciplinary communication among professionals all over the world with an interest in Design for All
- To improve the relationship between ergonomists and other actors involved in Design for All architects and engineers, product designers, interaction designers, marketers, stake holders, real users, firms, etc.

Domains of interest

The main domains of interest of the TC on EinDfA are:

1. Ergonomic role and contribution for involvement of real users in the design process:
- development of methods/methodologies for incorporating ergonomics in the design process
- implementation of ergonomic knowledge;

Since 2006: Many events at regional/national/international level (e.g. round tables and Special Sessions within the Italian national Congresses)

February 2012: two talks on “Ergonomics and Design for All” (Tosi, F., Steffan, I.T.) and “Sustainability and accessibility: the Design for All approach” (Steffan, I.T) at the IEA World Congress Recife, Brazil.These papers have been published on Work. A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation, n.41, supplement 1/2012, IOS Press, USA and can be accessed at: http://content.iospress.com/search?q=steffan&published_between=&from_year=&to

European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities DG (2010) Standardisation mandate to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI to include “design for all” in relevant standardisation initiatives, M473.

Gheerawo R., Eikhaug O., (2010) “Innovating with people – The business of Inclusive Design” The Norwegian Design Council, Oslo, Norway.